Dear UK Research Community,

I am honored to be serving as acting vice president for research at the University of Kentucky. My goal is to build on the outstanding work already being done at UK — and throughout Kentucky — to bring the power and possibility of discovery to everyone. 

UK is a special place — talented scientists and scholars working closely and collaboratively across every discipline and all on one campus. There is a deep commitment here to pursue discovery that improves the health, education and economy of Kentucky. And at our core, there is a desire to always serve the best interests of our students and all learners.

There is so much momentum behind those goals and commitments and so much opportunity to build and do even more.

That’s part of what drew me here nearly three years ago to become the chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics. 

I am a firm believer in team science — the idea that discovery and solutions happen in partnership with other scientists and among disciplines. This transdisciplinary approach must be central to all that we do. I’ve seen that commitment and its power firsthand. 

I came to UK in the midst of the COVID pandemic and joined the START team of scientists, clinicians and other members of our community. We wrestled in real time, together, with important questions about how to respond to the virus to protect our community and ensure our critical efforts could continue. 

I saw so many people, not simply willing to work together, but deeply engaged in it because that’s what was best for our campus and our state. I knew then that exciting and invaluable research is occurring in every corner and space of our community — in the arts and social sciences, in medicine and engineering, in energy and the environment. 

I can’t wait to learn more about what we do and how I can advocate on behalf of all the research at UK.

As a first-generation immigrant to this country, I know, too, the power of education — what it means to open doors of opportunity to all students to pursue their passions and their potential. 

Students at UK have the unique opportunity to try research as early as their first year as an undergraduate. Whether they choose to pursue research or not, it’s an experience that fosters innovative thinking and problem solving. 

And we can do that in special ways in a community like UK, with so much to offer on one campus and with so many people so focused on students and their success.

We have great momentum at UK, and we are on a trajectory of progress in serving this state by finding solutions to its biggest challenges. 

I will hit the ground running, meeting as many people across the research enterprise and campus as possible over the next several weeks. My goal is to do a lot of listening and learning. Then, we will find ways in partnership and across disciplines to build upon the momentum we have here to do even more for our state and all those we serve.

I’m so appreciative of this opportunity, and I look forward to meeting and working with you in the weeks and months ahead.

Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D.
Acting Vice President for Research
University of Kentucky